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1805

The comet Biela on an orbit near earth is visible in African skies, presenting a vivid sight at a time before electric lights when there was no light pollution to obscure the stars.

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1805

1876

In Portuguese East Africa (Mozambique), Lourenço Marques (Maputo) is established as a town by colonial authorities, who plant gum trees and build a hospital at the formerly neglected settlement. The growing port will be declared a city in 1887, and become the capital of the colony in 1898.

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1876

1889

In Swazieland (Eswatini), Swazi official Tikhuba Magongo, elected by the Swazi National Council to meet with British colonial authorities, demands restrictions on white traders: “We wish all liquor to be taken out of the country. Drink is ruining the nation, and making it rotten.”

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1889

1891

Named after the Ubangi River in Central Africa, the Upper Ubangi administrative district is established by France in what will become the Central African Republic, in violation of a French treaty with Belgium. The Belgian Congo claims the area as its own.

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1891

1911

Khalifa bin Harub begins his rule as the Sultan of Zanzibar. The longest-serving of Zanzibar’s sultans, he will oversee decades of infrastructure and other improvements until his he dies on the throne in 1960.

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1911

1929

Fans powered by electricity keep the audience cool at one of the few entertainments in Mombasa, British Kenya: the Trivoli Cinema. Silent films are shown with musical accompaniment.

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1929

1931

England’s Imperial Airways extends its London to Tanganyika air service to Cape Town.

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1931

1940

After the Italian army’s invasion of Egypt (pic), although Egypt officially remains neutral during World War II, British forces launch an offensive today, and push Italians back into Italian Libya.

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1940

1961

Tanganyika gains its independence from British rule. It’s capital is Dar es Salaam. Independence leader Julius Nyerere (pic) becomes the first prime minister. Although Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II remains head of state, the country will become a Republic in 1962. Joining Zanzibar in 1964, Tanganyika will form the mainland portion of the country of Tanzania.

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1961

1962

On the first anniversary of independence from Britain, Tanganyika becomes a Republic, but remains a Commonwealth member. (pic: Dar es Salaam)

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1962

1969

For the first time in two decades of aerial combat between Egypt and Israel, an Egyptian Air Force Russian-made MiG fighter shoots down an Israeli Air Force U.S.-made Phantom fighter.

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1969

2013

U.S. President Barack Obama and other world leaders arrive in South Africa to join a memorial service for freedom fighter and South Africa’s first democratic president Nelson Mandela.

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2013

Births

1908
Aden Adde

First President of Somalia, from national independence in 1960 until 1967, in Beledweyne, Somalia. Adde was the first African head of state to lose a free multiparty election and then peacefully transfer governance power to his successor.

1938
Theophilus Danjuma

Nigerian military leader and businessman, in Takum, Northern Region, British Nigeria. Retiring from an illustrious military career in 1979, he formed a shipping company and amassed a fortune when Nigeria began to exploit and ship its oil reserves. He expanded into telecommunications. He was appointed Nigeria’s Minister of Defence in 1999.

1973
Vénuste Niyongabo

Burundian athlete, in Vugizo, Burundi. He was first Burundian (and as of 2022 the only Burundian) to win a medal at an Olympics, when he took gold in the Men’s 5000 metres at the 1996 Summer Olympic Games.